In 2017, BIRN Network operated in an environment of declining media freedoms and unregulated media markets, where authorities and pro-governmental media outlets pressured members of the Network and its journalists; nevertheless, BIRN received national and international prizes as well as different kinds of informal praise.

BIRN’s English-language newspaper Belgrade Insight has made its first appearance at the Belgrade Book Fair in the Serbian capital this week, joining the many other media outlets exhibiting as part of the event’s Media Market.

The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Serbia provided support for BIRN’s Belgrade Insight starting inSeptember2016 as part of the annual assistance it provides for local media outlets through open call for proposals.

The Balkan Investigative Reporting Network worked with forumZFD – the German Forum Civil Peace Service – to jointly respond to the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights’ call for project proposals.